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Fashion Special Africa’s Top 10 Male Fashion designers
Yemi
Osunkoya (Kosibah)
“I was very excited though a bit apprehensive when I started the business as I’d never worked for any other designer – and who
sets up a couture label in a recession straight out of fashion school?”
and mother, a nurse, encouraged. Yemi, the third of four boys, graduated with a textiles degree from the University of Ife, Osun State, Nigeria. He went on to gain a fashion qualification from the Paris Academy School of Fashion, London, which incorporated the classical techniques of pattern making and hand craftsmanship. He launched Kosibah Creations, named in honour of his
mother, in September 1991 during the recession. He says: “I was very excited though a bit apprehensive when
I started the business as I’d never worked for any other designer – and who sets up a couture label in a recession straight out of fashion school?” Twenty years on, Kosibah (he dropped the word Creations in 2009 on launching a secondary logo) is a couture label of elegance, impeccable craftsmanship and notability. 2011 has been a golden year for Yemi. In July, he attended a
special reception hosted by Prince Charles and two months later, celebrated his 20th anniversary with the launch of ‘Bienvenue 20’, a collection of 10 wedding dresses inspired by ballet as seen by their names such as Margot. He went on to work on a fashion shoot with top wedding photographer Damien Lovegrove, participated in the Luxury Wedding Show 2011 with some of the most influential experts in the wedding industry and raised money for charity. Though he dresses celebrities, he is a designer for every
Achievers in he United Kingdom. In a year that has seen black models on the catwalk for
A
Christian Dior’s Fall 2011 collection, New African Woman pays tribute to the ‘African Dior’ for his use of corsets, boned bodices and evening gowns, paying homage to history with a modern feel and an emphasis on femininity. The comparison with Dior ends at the wedding dresses. Yemi’s
interest here can be traced to the society weddings he attended as a youngster in Nigeria, which his father, a medical doctor,
deyemi Osunkoya (Yemi for short) is the creative director of Kosibah and a multi-award winning bridal designer. He is a two-time Bridal Designer of the Year, Diamond Recognition from National Weddings UK and was named as one of this year's 100+ Black
woman, likening himself to a structural engineer for his ability to take at least three inches off a woman’s waist – the art of corsetry. Yemi Osunkoya is one of Africa’s iconic fashion designers who has embraced digital technology to build a significant online presence.
“He is a designer for every woman likening himself to a structural engineer for his ability to take at least three inches off a woman’s waist – the art of corsetry.”
)
Yinka Sunmonu
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